Labeling machine



Dec, 4 1923. 1,476,636

c. H. NITSCH ET AL I LABELING MACHINE A TTORNE Y6K.

Dec. 4, 1923.

C. H. NITSCH ET AL LABELING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 12v VE'N TOR;

" B Y r "f" A TTORNE Y5 Deg. 4 1923.

LABELING MACHINE Filed March l, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JNVENTO ATTORNEYS Dec. 4, 1923.

c. H; NITSCH ET AL LABELING MACHINE Filed March 1, 1922 5 Sheets-$11801: 4'

NM QM n 11v VENTORJ Y Ja fi m C. H. NITSCH ET AL LABELING MACHINE Dec. 4 1923.

Filed March 1 1.922

5 Sneets'Sheet 5- Patented Dec. 4, 1923.,

warren sr P'AE" o cHA-ELEs 1 1 Nrrscn AND wILLIaMA. WEIGHTMA or; LOGAN, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNons TO sroans a s arrrr COMPANY, or sUIvIMEanALE, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, a-eoaroaA'rIoN or PENNSYLVANIA.

LABELING MACHINE;

Application-filed March 1,

To all whom it may concern 4 7 Be it known that we, CHARLES H. NITsoH and WILLIAM A; VEIGHTMAN, citizens of the United States, and, residents of Logan, Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Labeling Machines, of which the following. is a specification. V

The invention relates to machines for applying labels toarticles and packages, and especially adapted for applying revenue stamps to cigarette packages.

Since certain peculiar problems are involved in stamping these packages according'to one general method, and since the in vention provides a satisfactory solution oi? these problems, it'willbe here described as physically embodied in a machine for thatparticular purpose; but it'w ill be evident after considering this embodiment that the invention is adaptable for other uses where some or all conditions are similar.

In order to avoiddifhculties involved in cutting sheets of revenue stamps up into individual stamps, and supplying these from individual magazines for-application to the packages, and certain disadvantages of labeling machines organized in accordance with that plan oi'stamp arrangement, it has been proposed to cut the stamp sheets into strips, each consisting of a plurality of stamps, place thesestrips in stacks in a magazine, feed the strips singly therefrom, cut, the strips to separate the individual stamps, apply adhesive, and then move the individual stamps onward toward applying position, while concurrently moving the stamps apart, to arrange them favorably for application to a row of packages positioned to receive them.

A machine designed to operate on this plan is disclosed in the patent to Fogde and Southwick, No. 1,24%,438, October23, 1917, and a machine or the same general type, with certain variations and improvements is de scribed in the patent to the same inventors, No. l, l35,4 58,-November 14,1922; and the special problems involved in this class of mach nes, so far as they are elucidated in the above disclosures, will not be described herein, except as may be necessary for an understanding of the present improvements.

1922. Serial No. 540,258.

The machines of the above mentioned patents employ pickers or selecting devices, which by the application of suction lift a single stampstripfrom a magazine containing a stack of strips, and retain the strip while it is cut, andtherea'fter the individual pickers or suction heads retain the individual stamps by the same forceof suction (or more properly by external atmospheric pressure in conjunction with lower pressure maintained in the hea'ds) while the stamps are cut, gummed,separated, and moved to application position. l

While these machines represent great im-' provements over hand stamping and previous machines, and operatesuccesstully 'in many respects, they fail to attain .the great est efliciency, for reasons connected chiefly with the pneumatic system of strip selecting and stamp-transport to applying positicn,

are pulled from-the suction heads by the glue roll when glue of desirable strength, or. adhesive quality, is used; in absence of stamps glue is frequently applied to the suction heads, with obvious resulting delay and annoyance; this last difficulty is sought to be avoided, int-he pending application, by devices for releasing the: gluing element from its operative connection in absence'ot a stamp from a suction ihead but these devices, aside from their complication do not avoid the annoyance of stamps falling from the suction heads, and inrespect to the magazine and initial feed arrangement, it is found. that strips frequently adhere together and are removed two at a time by the suction heads; this often results in one strip, being improperly ciutandj thestamps wasted, or else. the stamps of the lowerstrip fall about the machine indiscriminately, often getting mixed up with the glue or glue roll, and this double feedingalso frequently prevents proper gluing of the upper stamps, and failure to stamp the packages. Other objections and difliculties are well known to persons skilled in this art;

entirely eliminate the possibility of applying glue to the stamp carriers, by suitable relative formation and arrangement of the carriers and glueapplying instrumentality.

Another object is to provide for top replenishment of the strip magazine, and to otherwise improve the initial feed mech anism and its cooperation with other features of the machine.

Another object is to provide new and improved transfer mechanism for carrying the strips fromthe initial feed mechanism to the point of application to'the carrying .heads.

These and other objects, advantages, and characteristics of the invention are sufficientlyfurther explained hereafter, in connection with a detail description of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one exemplifying embodiment of the invention. After considering this, it will be evident that many variations of structure may 'be made within the principles of the invention, also that certain features are of value apart from others, as well as in combination as shown;

and we contemplate the employment of any structures which are within the scope of the appended claims.

In thedrawings: V

Fig. 1 is a top plan of a cigarette package stamping machine, embodying the invention, with some parts broken away.

Figure 2 is mainly a. substantially central, longitudinal, vertical section, some parts, however, being shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a transverse, vertical section at 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. lis a positional view of the strip magazine and initial feed. mechanism.

Fig. 5vis a sectional detail, enlarged, of the stamp carriers or heads and associated parts, at the rear, or strip gripping position,

Fig. 6 is a detail, in elevation, of'the carrier heads and grippers in relation to the glue roll.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section, in a plane and on a scale corresponding to Fig. 5, of the carrier heads and associated parts at the front, or stamp applying position.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a cigarette package, with a stamp applied, in accord-' ance with the mode of operation of the present machine. 7

Fig. 9 is a substantially diagrammatic. elevation of the stamp strip transfer mechanism, adjacent parts being indicated in a fragmentary or elementary way;

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail, explanatory of the strip transfer mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a top plan, with parts broken away, of the glue tank, rolls and scrapers.

The machine is built upon and about a suitable frame, sufficient parts of which are shown in the drawings, including a main plate or table 1, which is supported on suitable legs or standards (not shown), and elevated longitudinal side members sup ported by uprights 3, 4, restingon the table. A carriage 5 carries the label gripping and applying mechanism. This carriage is in the general form of a cross piece 6 having longitudinal side extension 7, fitting in guide channels 8, located on frame side members 2, and the carriage is reciprocated by suitable means, sufliciently indicated by a link 9 pivotally connected to the carriage at 10. At the forward or label applying end of the machine (at the left in Fig. 2)- the table has an elevated portion 1, and a package feed-belt 11 is arranged to move in shallow groove in this table surface. The

package belt is provided] with upwardly projecting package feed members or pushing blades 12 arranged at regular intervals so as to accommodate between each of two blades a row consisting of a suitable number .of packages P, which are in the present instance cigarette packages of the well known pouch type, arranged live in each group, with the packages uprightand with their narrower sides in contact. Evidently the number of packages in each row or group may be varied withln any reasonable limits, and the label handling jmech'anisrn as hereinafter described, may be adapted to simultaneously apply labels to any reason"- able number of packages at once. Act and adjacent to labeling position the packages P are located between vertical guide plates 13. The carriage 5 carries: a plurality of label carrying and applying instrumentalities 14, adapted to receive and hold a label strip consisting of a row of unseparated labels, and these instrumentalities are monnted for a depression movement and also for a. laterally divergent or separating movement and are controlled in this movement by a cam plate 15 supported on uprights 16 and 17, and provided with cam slots 18, forward portions of some of which are directed divergently, as at 19.20, Fig. 1 Between the rearward location of the carriage, that is its position as shown in Fig. 2, where the applying instrumentalities receive the label strip, and the forward position, that is the location of the package'ro-w P,'are located a series of cutters 21 to cut and separate the label strip into individual labels, and a gluing instrumentality including a glue roll 22Vto adhesively condition the under faces of the labels.

The package. feed belt 11 is moved intermittently, and is supplied with packages in proper arrangement at a point anterior to labeling position. l'nrea'ch rest of the con'-.

ve'yor it locates a package row for labeling. The carriage 5 is moved in properly timed relation to the feed belt. At its rearward position a label strip is supplied to the label carrying instrumentalities; the carriage is then moved forward, the label strip is cut, the labels are gummed, the carrying instrumentalities are separated by the action of the cam' slots to position the individual labels in centered relation ,to the individual packages; the labels are brought over the packages, and the carrying instiain'ientalities are depressed while the packages are at rest; the labels are applied and released; the applying instrumentalities areretrac'ted, and the carriage returns to' rearward position while the labeled packages are moved on for further operations, such as turning down the projecting label ends, and the operations are repeated indefinitely. As so far described, the machine and its modeof operation are substantially as in the previously:

mentioned patent and pending application to which reference should be made for an understanding of suitable or representative torms of driving connections". and other parts of the, mechanism not particularly shown or; described herein.

The carriage 5 is providedwith parallel transverse round rods 25', Figs. 5' and 7, supported by the carriage side members 7 Each label carrier 14' includes a block 26 mounted toslide'on these rods, and a vertically movable head 27 guided by a pin 28 secured in an extension on block 26. A label receiving plate 29 is supported below the head 2'? byside pieces 30; A' sleeve 31 is fixed in an aperture in the block 26and has a portion 32 located in one of the cam slots lS so that in the lon itudinal movement of the carriage the entire applying unitis direeled properly and the outer. ones are moved laterally as theyapproa'ch the forward end of carriage travel by the angular portions 19 and 20 of the outward cam slots, lheceutral cam slot being straight, since in the present package arrangement the central applying instrumentality may be at all to rin vin position.

b L t: a

'conimodate portions of sleeves at between is screw-threaded and screwed provided a shifting'collar consisting spe-' cifically of disks 35 engaging exterior screw threads on the sleeve,- and lock nuts 36, also engaging the screw threads, so that the disks may be adjusted and locked, not only to form an annular shifting-groove 37 of proper vertical width, but to properly adjust the position of this groove vertically in relation to shifting and holding elements which cooperate with the shifting collar, as presently described. The heads 27 are nor mally supported in their uppermost position, in contact with blocks 26, by springs 38 compressed between the lower nuts 36' and wash?- ers 39 restin'g on the upper ends of sleeves 31. The lower portion of the rod 33 is also bored out to form a tubular portion 40, .in-- the lower end of which is mounted a vertically movable plunger 41' having a clevised end pivo-tally connected: to a lever 42 fulcruinecl on a pin 43 mounted in the side pieces 30. The outward end of this lever is provided with a pinata engaging a slot 45 in one arm of a gripper lever 46 mountedona pin 4-7 located in forward extensions of the side plates 30. The gripper lever has a suitably curved or hook-shaped gripper 48' an tral portion of the bar 33 and this rod is operatively integral with a portion 50 of larger diameter sli'dably mounted in the sleeve 34. A spring 51 compressed between plunger 41' and a shoulder at t'heupper end of sleeve 40, normally urges the gripper 48-- A shifting collar 52. 'havingan annular shifting groove 53 has a screw-threaded engagement withthe upper end of rod. 50 and is secured in adjusted:

' position by afllock-nut 54.

the shifting disks and the forward cor hem of the fingers being rounded or beveled as at 59 to facilitate the entry of these sleeve portions between the fingers. As the carriage nears its rearinost position the heads 27 are held in normal, elevated position by the springs 38, and the shifting collars are then brought into engagement with ,the holding fingers 55, the disks 35 overly ing the margins of these fingers, and during the further slight rearwardinovement of the carriage, and while the carriage is station-' ary at label receiving position, by the described means, the heads 27 and the label receiving plates 29 are held positively in elevated position to receive the label 'st'rip.

g longitu At the same time the shifting grooves 53 of rods 50 are brought into cooperation in a similar way with shifting fingers 60 formed on a plate 61, the fingers defining shifting shots 62 and having rounded or beveled corners 63, substantially as and for the same purpose as similar parts of the head retaining structure just described. The plate 61 is secured to a vertically movable member 65 having rearwardly extending arms 66 secured to the upper ends of rods 67, suitably guided for vertical reciprocation in upright 16. Y The lower ends of these rods are connected to a cross piece 68 which has a cam roller 69 engaging a camgroove 70 in a cir cular cam body '41 carried by a shaft 72. The cam groove is contoured so that as the carriage approaches rearmost position the plate 61 is elevated,-and the shifting collars 52 are engaged with the shifting fingers 60, the cross bar 68 with its rods 67 is then moved down and plate 61 is depressed and the grippers are all simultaneously retracted, so that when the carriage comes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 5 the grippers are in label receiving position.

Near the forward end of the frame, as best shown in Fig. 2, is an applier head operating. plate 75 having fingers 76 defining shifting slots 77 and corresponding substantially to the plate 56, previously described,

7 the plate 75, however, being mounted for shifting fingers 88. corresponding to the vertical reciprocation on a pair of sleeves 78, the lower ends of which are connected to a cross piece 79 having a cam roller 80 en gaging a cam groove in a cam body 81 on shaft 72. Thecam groove acting on roller 80 is contoured sothatas the carriage approaches forward position the plate 75. is elevated and fingers 77 are engaged with the shifting collars of the label carriers and thereafter at about the time that the carriage is stationary in forward position the sleeve 7 8 and plate 75 are depressed and the carrier heads 27, and connected parts are depressed and the individual labels carried by plates 29 are pressed upon the upper ends of the packages P in the position shown in Fig. 8, in which L is one of the individual labels or revenue stampsQ Approximately above plate 75 is a shifter plate 82 with plate61 previously described. Plate 82 is carried by rods 84 arranged to reclprocate win the sleeves 78 and the lower ends of these rod are connected to a cross piece 85 provided with a cam roller 86 engaging the periphery of a cam 87 on shaft 72. The cam is contoured so that as the shiftmg collars 52 approach forward position they are prop- V The cam then causes the cam plate 82 to be depressed in unison with the plate 75, and then while the plate 75 is still depressed the shifting plate 82 is raised, thus elevating all grippers resume their normal position at or about the time that the shifting collars 52 are freed from their forward operating plate. The shifting slots in plates and 82 are, of course, spaced apart to agree with the separated positions of the carrier heads and the two sets of shifting collars, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

in the patented machine, and also in that described in the aboveunentioned application, the label carriers at label receiving position are depressed to receive a labelstrip from a magazine containing a stack of strips: and vadous difficulties, including sticking together of two or more strips, delay or annoyance in replenishing the magazine, and others understood by persons skilled in the art, result from this magazine location and method of feeding strips to the carriers. To avoid these difficulties, and to generally improve the construction and operation of the machine,'in the present in vention the label or stamp strips S are preferably arranged in a stack, in a container or magazine 90, located considerably away from the label carriers,(l ig. 3) and labels The lever is oscillated by an eccentric strap and link 99, and eccentric 100 on a shaft .101, driven by gears 102 and 103 from a shaft 101, which is in turn driven from shaft 72 by sprockets and a chain 105. Thus the magazine. is reciprocated in properlytim ed relation, during each cycle of the machine. The base plate 91 is only long enough to support the rearward portion of the strip stack, the forward bottom portion 107 of the magazine being open. A suction roll 108 on a shaft 109 mounted in fixed bearings 110 engages the bottom strip, and by suction acting through the roll aperture 111 at about the moment the magazine starts forward in the feeding action, the forward end of the strip adheres to the roll, which is rotated by a pinion 112 and rack 113 connected to move with the magazine. The suction mechanism and control maybe as usual in feed apparatus of this class. The deflected strip end runs under a wedge or 1,47e,cse

guide 114 carried by an arm 115 secured to a fixed support 116; the .suction is broken to free the strip from the suction roll,'and shortly thereafter the strip is directed to engagement with'a'feed roll 117 cooperating with a feed or strip conveyor belt 118. During th rearward. movement of the mag azine the strip is withdrawn and fed onward by the/feed roll and belt. When the bottom strip is deflected, the, forward portion of the stack is supported bylingers "119 carried by arms 12 dependingt'r'om a rock shaft 121 movably mounted in extensions 122 of side plates .2; and these fingers are retracted at the rearward stack position, by a pin or screw 123 adjustably mounted in an arm 124i connected to shaft 121, and provided with a lock nut 125, the end of this screw being arranged to engage a fixed stop in the form of apin 126.

The strip feed belt 116 runs on pulleys 130 and 131, and pulley 180 is driven by a gear 132 on its shaft 133, engaging gear 102 of shaft 101. Feed roll 117 is desirably driven positively by'a pinion 13 1 on its shaft engaging a pinion on shaft 133. .The upper stretch of the feed belt runs overa plate 136, and passes below the label receiving plates 29 in their rearward position, Fig. The label-strips are held with su'ficient positiveness upon the belt surface by a guide wire 13? which lies close to the belt surface, and passes below the plates 29. One end of the wire is connected to an arm 138depend ing from support l16, previously mentioned, and the other end is connected to an adjustable pin 139, screw-threaded and passing through a bracket-arm 1 10, and provided with nuts 1 11, so that the tension of the guide-wire may be regulated. Rolls 1 12 cooperate with the guide wire and belt. These are of suitable number, so that the advanccated holes in plate 136, and actuated by a bar 18. earned by aims 1&9 extending from a rock-shaft 150, mounted in brackets 151 and provided with an upright arm in which a tappet 153 is adpistably screwed,

and secured by a lock nut 154:. The individual pins 1 14, or-bar 1 l8,may be retracted by one or more springs 156. The forward end of cari' ge, so that as the carriage completes its rearward movement the rock-shaft is oscillated and pins 1&7 are-lifted, bringing the tappet 153 is engaged by apartof the strip margin into close contact with forward portions of thecarrying plates 29, and in proper position for engagement-by grippers 'ters without the complication of a train of speed multiplying gearing, although, of course, such a gear. drive interconnected with some otherpart of the machine may be provided, instead of the independent motor. The cutter edges are in line with spaces; 163 between the carrier heads 27. As the heads in their converged position, as shown in Fig. 6, carry the label strip past the cutters, the strip is divided into independent-labels L. Before the heads commence to move apart the labels are carried over and in contact with'the glue roll 22, which is mounted on a shaft 165- supported in bearings 1.66. on the glue tank 167; The roll shaft 165 has a driving gear 210 engaging a ge'ar 211 ona shaft 212 and gear 211 engages a gear 213 on a shaft 214,-, which also has a spiral. gear. 215, engaging a spiral gear 216 on shaft 72, for driving the glue roll. Below the glue roll is a dipper roll 168 which supplies glue to the glue roll.

The label carrying. faces of the plates 29 are provided with narrow ribs 170. alternating with channels, and the roll surface is formed with a plurality of narrow ribs 172, alternating with channels, the ribs of plates 29 and the roll being interspacech-or'in other words, arranged. so that ribs on theone are opposite channels on the other, as suiiiciently shown in Fig. 6. The glue roll is also'provided with deeper and wider channels, 174: to permit the grippers 4:6 to pass without conflict with the glue roll and without touching any glued surface. When a label is in proper position on any of the carrier plates 29 it is supported by the ribs 170 and its lower surface is brought properly in contact with the glue roll ribs172 and narrow parallel stripes of glue are applied to the label surface." These are sufficient to cause the label or stamp to properly adhereto the package, and in fact, in the application of the stamps to the packages and subsequent pressing of the stamps in position on the packages, these glue stripes spread more or less and provide an ample adhesive engagement of the stamp with the package, If, however, for any reason a label is absent from the carrying plate 29 during advance movement of the carriage, there is. no possibility. of contact between ribs 170 and 172 and, therefore, it is impossible for any glue to be applied to the carrier surface, Similarly, in return movement of the carriers it is not necessary to elevate them to avoid the glue roll, or to depress the glue roll, or in fact, to make any special provision to avoid the contact of the carrier surface with any glued surfaces, since the carrier ribs always pass opposite channels of the glue roll or substantially between theiroll ribs. The carrier ribs 170 are located sufliciently close together so that the stamps are not appreciably bent by contact with the glue roll ribs; also the area of the glue stripes is so small that there is no appreciable tendency to pull the labels away from the carrying faces or from the grippers.

It is desirable to provide means to regulate the amount of glue on the crests of ribs 17 2,

For this purpose a scraper plate 176 is adjustably mounted on a wall of the glue tank by means ofslots 177 and screws 178, and

this plate has an edge conformed substantially to'the conformation of the roll surface; that is it has teeth 179 fitting closely the sides of the roll ribs 172, and at the bases of these teeth the plate is slotted out slightly asat 180, providing narrow grooves of substantially rectangular outline, or in other words, spaces which determine the amount of glue remaining on the crests of the ribs for application to the labels. Desirably the sides of the ribs 172 are slightly beveled and the sides of the scraper teeth are similarly formed so that the scraper head fits closely against the sides of the ribs and removes practically all of the glue therefrom. De sirably strippers in the form of pins or blades 182 carried by a plate 183, are provided, fit-- ing between certain of the roll ribs 172, to prevent labels running into the glue trough if for any reason they are released at this point. The dipper roll 168 is carried by a shaft 185 which has bearings in eccentric blocks 186, and these are adjustable by means of slotted sectors 187 and screws 188, so that by moving the blocks angularly the axis of shaft 185 may be moved toward and from the glue roll axis to adjust the contact between the glue roll and the dipper roll. Desirably, also, a scraper 188 is provided to regulate the amount of glue carried by the dipper roll, and'this is mounted adjustably on a wall of the glue tank by means of screws 189 passing through slots 190 in the scraper.

After gluing, the labels are separated to bring them in properly centered relation to the packages, by the diverging movement of the carrier heads, as sufliciently described above. As the carrier heads approach label-- ing position the advancing ends of the stamps encountera stop blade or plate 192, mounted on guide plate 13, this stop plate being provided with apertures 193 to accommodate the grippers.

Cigarette packages of the class described are frequently provided with an inner wrapping W, which is exposed at the upper open end of the outer or pouch wrapper X; and this inner wrapper has end flaps Y which sometimes tend-to spring up or pro- 7 ject, and interfere more or less with the proper movement of the stampsto applica tion position and this displacement of the flaps may even prevent the proper position- 7 ing and securing of the stamps. To insure the proper positioning of these flaps, flap depressers or holders in the form of blades 195 are mounted on a rock shaft 196 and are normally retracted, as shown in Fig, 2, by a spring 197 connected to a pin 198 on the shaft. The depresser blades are properly positioned and spaced apart to avoid conflict v with the advancing stamps and carrier heads; that is to say, they are arranged opposite the spaces between the now divergently separated heads, and in this position the depresser blades lie over portions of the flaps Y to one side of the stamp location, as sufiiciently indicated in Fig. 8. The rock shaft 196 has an arm 200 carryin a cam v roller 201 in the path of a cam plate 202 secured to one of the carriage side members 7 turns the presser blades 195 to elevated position, so that the packages may freely move away and a new set of packages come into position.

What I claim is 1. In a labeling machine, in which a label strip is associated with a plurality of label carriers, the strip severed to free the individual labels, and the labels are adhesively conditioned, separated by divergent move ment of the carriers during their advance to labeling position and applied to a rowof packages at labeling position, positive label gripping means associated with the label carriers, and means for advancing a label strip consisting of a series of connected labels and positioning the strip below the label carriers ready for grasping by the gripping means.

2. In a labeling machine, in which a label strip is associated with a plurality of label carriers, the strip severed to free the individual labels, and the labels are adhesively conditioned, separated by divergent movement of the carriers during their advance to labeling position, and applied to a row of wees packages at labeling position, the combination with the label carriers of positive label grippers, means for operating the grippers to grasp and securely hold the label strip at a label receiving position, to positively retain the individualflabels after severing and while being adhesively conditioned and to release the labels at applying position, and means for advancing a label strip consisting of a series of connected labels and positioning the strip below the label carriers ready for grasping by the grippers.

4. In a labeling machine, in which a label strip is associated with a plurality of label carriers, the strip severed to free the individual labels, and the labels are adhesively conditioned, separated by divergent move-' ment of the carriers during their advance to labeling position and applied to a row of packages at labeling position, the combina tion with the carriers of positive label grippers, means for operating the grippers to grasp and securely hold the label strip at a label receiving position, to positively retain the individual labelsv after severing and while being adhesively conditioned and to release the labels at applying position, means for advancing label strips to label receiving position, and means for lifting the strip to aid the gripping action.

5 In a labeling machine, in which a label strip is associated with a plurality of label carriers, the strip severed. to'free the inclividual labels, and the labels are adhesively conditioned, separated bydivergent move ment of the carriers during their advance tolabeling position and applied to a row of packages at labeling position, a holder for a stack of label strips, means for feeding individual strips successively from the holder, means for advancing the strips to strip receiving position of the carriers in timed relation to the carrier movements, and means for positioning the label strip in relation to the carriers at the label receiving position. 1

' 6. In a labeling machine, in which a label strip is associated with a plurality of label carriers,'the strip severed to free the individual labels, and the labels are adhesively conditioned, separated by divergent movement of the carriers during their advance to labeling position andappliedto a row of packages at labeling position, positive label gripping means associated with the label carriers, a holder for a stack of label strips, means for feeding individual strips successively from the holder, means for advancing the strips'to strip receiving position of the carriers vin timed relation to the carrier movements, and means for locating the strip at label receiving position with each individual label in the strip arranged for gripping by one of the individual carrier grippers.

7. In a labeling machine, in which a label strip is associated with a plurality of label carriers, the strip severed to freethe individual labels, and the labels are adhesively conditioned, separated by divergent move ment of the carriers during their advance to labeling position and applied to a row of packages at labeling position, a carriage, means for moving it to and fro, a plurality of label carriers mounted for lateral movement on the carriage and also mounted for a. depression movement, a label gripperon each carrier, means for depressing'the carriers at one end of the carriage travel, and means for operating the grippers at one end of the carriage travel to engage labels and 'at the other end of the travel to release them.

8. In a labeling machine, in which a label strip is associated with a plurality of label carriers, the strip severed to free the individual labels, and the labels are adhesively conditioned, separated by divergent movement of the carriers during their advance to labeling positionand applied to a row of packages at labeling position, a carriage, means for moving it to and fro, a plurality of label carriers mounted for lateral movement on the carriage and also mounted for a vdepression movement, a positive label gripper on each carrier, means for depressing the carriers at the delivery end" ofthe carriage travel, and meansfor operating the grippers at' the receiving end of the can riage travel to engage labels at the other end of the travel to release them.

9. Labeling mechanism comprising a carriagehaving to and fro movement, a plurality of label carriers mount-ed thereon for lateral divergent movement and for a depression movement, a positive label gripper foreach carrier, means controlling-{lateral movement of the carriers, means engaged with the carriers atlabel delivery position for depressing and returning them, and means engaged with the grippers at each end offhe carriage movement for operating the grippers. V

. ,10. Labeling mechanism comprising a carriage having to and fro movement, a plurality of label carriers mounted thereonffor lateral divergent movement and for a depression movement, a'positive label gripper on each carrier, means controlling lateral movement of the carriers, means engaged With the carriers at label delivery position for depressing and returning them, means engaged With the grippers at each end of the carriage movement for operating the grippers, and a glue roll, the roll and adjacent carrier surfaces being provided with interspaced ribs to insure glue application to labels andprevent glue application to the carrier surfaces.

' 11. Labeling mechanism comprising a carriage having to and fro movement, a plurality of label carriers mounted thereon for lateraldivergent movement and for a depression movement, a positive label gripper for each carrier, means controlling lateral movement of the carriers, means engaged with the carriers at label delivery position for depressing and returning them, means engaged With the carriers at label receiving position to prevent depression movement, and means engaged with the grippers at eachend of the carriage movement for operating the grippers.

12. Labeling mechanism comprising a carriage having to and fro movement, a plurality of label carriers mounted thereon for lateral divergent movement and for a depression movement, a positive label gripper on each carrier, means controlling lateral movement of the carriers, means engaged With the carriers at label. delivery position for depressing and returning them, means engaged With the carriers at label receiving position to prevent depression movement, means en aged With the grippers at each end of the carriage movement for operating the grippers, and a glue roll, the roll and adjacent carrier surfaces being provided with interspaced ribs to insureglue application to labels and prevent glue application to the carrier surfaces.

13. Labeling mechanism comprising a reciprocating carriage, a plurality of label carriers mounted thereon for divergent movement and for vertical movement,means for moving the carriers divergently and for returning them during movements of, the carriage, vertical shifting collars connected to the carriers, a series of shifters engaged With the collars at delivery position of the carriage, means for moving the shifters to depress the carriers, positive label, grippers 'on the carriers, gripper operating means including shifting collars, a series of shifters engaging the gripper shifting collars at each end of the carriage movement, and means for operating the last named series of shifters.

14L. Labeling mechanism comprising aireciprocating carriage, a plurality of label carriers mounted thereon for. lateral divergent movement and for vertical movement,

means for moving the carriers divergently revaeee and for returning them convergently during to and fro movements of the carriage, label slitters and a glue roll arranged for label contact Whilethe carriers are convergently located in their advance movements, vertical shifting collars connected to the carriers, a series of shifters engaged ith the collars at delivery position'of the carriage, means for moving the shifters to depress the carriers, positive label grippers on the carriers, gripper operating means including shifting collars, a series of shifters engaging the gripper shifting collars at each end of the carriage movement, and means for operating the last named series of shifters.

15. Labeling mechanism comprising a re-- ciprocating carriage, a plurality oflabel carriers mounted thereon for divergent movement and for vertical movement, means for moving the carriers divergently and for returning them during movements of the carriage, vertical shifting collars connected to the carriers, a series of shifters engaged with the collars at delivery position of the carriage, means for moving the shifters to depress the carriers, a series of retaining members engaging the carrier collars at label receiving position to prevent depression movement, positive label grippers on the carrlers, gripper operating means including 7 located in their advance movements, vertical shifting collars connected to thecarriers, a series of shifters engaged With-the collars at delivery position of the earriage, means for moving the shifters to depress the carriers, a series of retaining members engaging the carrier collars at-label receiving position to prevent depression movement, positive label grippers on the carriers, gripper operating means including shifting collars, a series of shifters engaging the gripper shifting collars at each. end of the carriage movement, and means for operating the last named series of shift-- ers. r

17. In labeling mechanism of the class described, means for positioning articles to be labeled, means for supplying labels, a label carrier, means forsecuring alabel -te the carrier, a glueapplier, and means fox:

moving the carrier past thejglue applier,.

adjacent faces of the carrier-and the applier being mutually conformed to prevent application of glue to the carrier in the absence of a label.

18. In labeling mechanism of the class described, means for positioning articles to be labeled, means for supplying labels, a label carrier, a gripper for securing a label to the carrier, a glue applier, and means for moving the carrier past the glue applier, adjacent faces of the carrier and the a-pplier being mutually conformed to glue the label and prevent application of glue to the carrier in absence of a label.

19. In labeling mechanism of the class described, means for positioning articles to be labeled, means for supplying labels, a

label carrier, means for securing a label to the carrier, a glue applier, and means for moving the carrier past the glue applier, the active faces of the carrier and the glue applier being provided with interspaced ribs with substantial clearance so that a label properly positioned on the carrier receives stripes of glue from the gluer ribs, and in the absence of a label the carrier surface does not come in contact with glue.

20. In labeling mechanism of the class described, means for positioning articles to be labeled, means for supplying labels, a label carrier, means for securing a label to the carrier, a glue applier, and means for moving the carrier past the glue applier, the active faces of the carrier and the glue applier being provided with narrow, interfitting ribs and rib spaces with substantial clearance, so that a label properly positioned on the carrier receives stripes of glue from the gluer ribs, and in the absence of a label the carrier surface does not come in contact with glue.

21. In a labeling machine, means for positioning articles to be labeled, means for supplying labels, a glue roll, glue supply means,a label carrier, the glue roll and the carrier being provided withribs and channels, the ribs on one being arran ed in opposition to the channels on the other, where by when a stamp is positioned on the carrier it receives glue stripes from the glue roll and in the absence of a label, contact of the carrier face with the glue carrying surfaces of the roll is prevented.

22. In a labeling machine, means forpositioning articles to'be labeled, means for supplying labels,aglue roll, glue supply means, a label carrier having to and fro movement, means for securing a label to the carrier the glue roll and the carrier being provided with interspaced ribs and channels, whereby when a stamp is positioned on the carrier it receives glue stripes from the glue roll ribs and in the absence of a label, contact of the carrier face with the glue carry ing surfaces of the roll is prevented.

23. In a labeling machine, means for positioning articles to be labeled, means for supplying labe-ls', a glue roll, means for supply-. ing gluev to the roll, a label carrier having to and fro movement, a label gripper on the carrier, the glue roll and the carrier being provided with narrowribs and" channels, the ribs on one being arranged in opposition to the channels on the other, whereby when a stamp is positioned on the carrier it receives narrow gluestripes from the glue roll ribs and in the absence of a label, contact of the carrier face with the glue carrying surfaces of the roll is prevented, -the glue .roll being provided with achannel to accommodate the label gripper. i

24:.- In a labeling machine, means for positioning articles to be labeled, means for supplying labels, a glue roll, means for supplying glue to the roll, a label carrier having to and fro movement, a positive label gripper on the carrier, the glue roll and the carrier being provided with relatively narrow ribs and channels, the ribs on one being arranged in opposition to the channels on the other and the rib crests being positioned to passeach other in nearly the same plane, whereby when a stamp is positioned on the carrier it receives narrow glue stripes from the glue roll ribs, and in the absence of a label contact of the carrier face withthe glue carrying surfaces of the roll is prevented, the glue roll being pro vided with a channel to accommodate the label gripper.

25. In a labeling machine, means for positioning articles to be labeled, means for supplying labels, a glue roll, means for supplying glue to the roll, a plural" of label carriers having toand fro movement, a positive label gripper on each carrier, the glue roll and the carriers being provided With'ribs and channels, the ribs on one being a ranged in opposition to'the channels on the others, and the rib crests being positioned to pass each other in nearly the same plane, whereby when labels are positioned on the carriers they receive narrow glue stripes from the glue roll ribs and in the absence of a label contact of the carrier face with the glue carrying surface of the roll is prevented.

26. In a labeling machine, means for positioning. articles to be labeled, means for supplying labels, -a glue roll, means for supplying glue to the roll,a plurality of independentlabel carriers having to and fro movement, a positive label gripper on each carrier, the glue roll and the carriers being provided with relatively narrow ribs and channelsythe ribs on the roll being arranged in opposition to the" channels of the carriers and the rib crests being positioned to pass each other in nearly the sameplane, whereby when labels are positioned on the carriers they receive narrow glue stripes from the glue roll ribs, and in the absence of a label contact of the carrier face with the glue carrying surface of the roll is prevented, the glue roll being provided with channels to accommodate the label grippers.

27. A labeling machine comprising, means for positioning packages for labeling, at carriage having to andfro movement, a label carrier thereon, a label gripper on'tlie car rier, means for operating the gripper, means for advancing a label into opposed relation to thecarrier surface, and means for elevating an edge of the label.

H 28. A. labeling machine comprising, means for positioning packages for labeling, a carriage having to and fro movement, a label carrier thereon, a label gripper on the carrier, means for operating the gripper, means for advancing a label into opposedi'elation to the carrier surface, and means operated by carriage movement for moving an edge of rier, means for operating the gripper, means for advancing a label into opposed relation to the carrier surface, a lifter pin over which the label is positioned, and means actuated by carriage movement for raising the pin to lift the label prior to closing movement of the gripper.

30. A labeling machine comprising, means for positioning packages forlabeling, a carriage having to and fro movement, a plurality of label carriers thereon, a label gripper on each: carrier, means for operating the grippers, means for advancing a label stripinto opposed relation to the carrier surfaces, and means for elevating'an edge-of the label strip to insure proper engagement of the grippers. I

81. A labeling machine comprising, means for positioning packages for labeling, a

carriage having to and fI O IHOVQHIG/Dt, a,

plurality of label carriers thereon, a label gripper on each carrier, means for operating'thegrippers, means for advancing a label strip into opposed relation to the carrier surfaces, and means operated by carriage movement for moving an edge of the label strip into close contact with the carrier surfaces prior to gripper engage ment. 7 y

82'. A labeling machine comprising, means for positioning packages for labeling, a carriage having to and fro movement, a plurality of label carriers thereon, a. label gripper on each carrier, means for operating thegrippers, means for advancing a label strip into opposed relation to the carrier surfaces, lifter pins over which the label strip is positioned, and means actuated by carriage movement for raising the pins to lift the label strip prior to closing movement of the grippers.

33. A labeling machine comprising a label carrier, means for supplying and se-" flaps, and means for operating the blade to act on the package prior to label application. V

35. A labeling machine comprising a plustation,

rality of label carriers, means for supplying and securing labels thereto, means for moving the carriers to a label applying station,

means for ositionin a row of acka es at that station, and pressers arranged to act on the label receiving ends of the packages and arranged to avoid interference with the carriers and labels.

36. A labelingmachino comprising a plurality of label carriers, means for supplying and securing labels thereto, means for moving the carriers to a label applying station, means for positioning a row of packages at that station, presser blades arranged to depress package flaps, and-means for op erating the blades to act on'the packages prior to label application.

37. Labeling mechanism comprising a label carrier, label securing means on the carrier, means for feeding labels successively toward the carrier at label receiving position, and means for locating the labels on the feeding'means during movement toward the stated position.

38. Labeling mechanism comprising "a carriage, a plurality of label carriers thereon, label securing means on the carriers, means for feeding label strips successively toward the carriers at label receiving posi tion, and means for definitely locating the label strips on the feeding means during movement toward thestated position.

A labeling machinecomprising a carriage, a plurality of label. carriers thereon,

a positive gripper for each carrier, a magazine for a stack of label strips, means for feeding individual strips successively from the magazine, a belt for carrying the label strips 40. A. lab ling machine comprising a cariage, a plurality of label carriers thereon, a positive gripper for each carrier, a magazine for a stack of label strips, means for feeding individual strips successively from the magazine, a belt for carrying the label strips to a position below the carriers, and a guide wire lying close above the belt surface and passing below the carrier faces-to locate advancing labels on the belt.

4C1. A labeling machine comprising a carriage, a plurality of label carriers thereon, a positive gripper for each carrier, a magazine for a stack of label strips, means for feeding individual strips successively from the magazine, a belt for carrying the label strips to a position below the carriers, a guide located above the belt and advancing strips and below the carriers to retain the label strips on the belt during advance, and guide rolls associated with the guide and belt.

42. A labeling machine comprising a carriage, a plurality of label carriers thereon, a positive gripper for each carrieiga magazine for a stack of label strips, means for feeding individual strips successively from the magazine, a belt for carrying the label strips to a position below the carriers, a guide wire lying close above the belt surface and passing below the carrier faces to locate advancing labels on the belt, and guide rolls engaging the belt and label strips and channeled to accommodate the guide wire.

43. A labeling machine comprising means for positioning a row of packagesto be labeled, means for advancingstrips to a label receiving position, a reciprocating carriage, means for moving it from label receiving to label position and back, a plurality of label carriers on the carriage, means for depressing and raising the carriers at labeling position, means for moving the carriers divergently prior to the location of the carriage at labeling position, and for moving them oonvergently prior to location of the carriage at label receiving position, a positive label gripper on each carrier, means for opening and closing the grippers at each stated position, slitters to separate individual labels, and means for applying glueto the labels during advance of the carriage toward labeling position.

44:. A labeling machine comprising means for positioning a row of packages to be labeled, means for advancing label strips to a label receiving position, a reciprocating carriage, means for moving it from label receiving to label applying position and back, a plurality of label carriers on the carriage, means for depressing and raising the carriers at labeling position, means for moving the carriers divergently, prior to the location of the carriage at labeling position, and for moving them convergently to location of the carriage at label receiving position, a positive label gripper on each carrier, means for opening and closing the grippers at each stated position, means operated by carriage movement for elevating an edge of the label strip at label receiving position, slitters to separate individual labels, and means for applying glue to the labels during advance of the carriage toward labeling position.

45. A labeling machine con'iprising means forpositioning a row of packages to be labeled, meansfor advancing strips to a label receiving position, a reciprocating carriage, means for moving it from label receiving to label position and back, a plurality of label carriers on the carriage, means for depressing and raising the carriers at labeling position, means for moving the carriers divergently prior to the location of the carriage at labeling position and for moving them convergently prior to location of the carriage at label receiving position, a positive label gripper on each carrier, means for opening and closing the grippers at each a stated position, slitters to separate individual labels, means for applying glue tothe labels during advance of the carriage toward labeling position, package topdepressersat labeling position, and means for operating the depressers' prior tov depression of the carriers at labeling position.

46. A labeling machine comprising means for positioning a row of packages to bela beled, means for advancing label strips to a label receiving position, a reciprocating carriage, means for" moving it from label receiving to label applying position and back, a. plurality of labelcarriers on the carriage, means for depressing and raising the carriers at labeling position, means for movingthe carriers divergentlyprior to the location of the carriage at labeling position, and for moving them czonvergently prior to location of the carriage at label receiving position, a positive label grip-per on each carrier, means for opening and closing the grippe -rs at each state-d position, means op:- erated by carriage movement for elevating an edge of the label strip at label receiving position, slitters to separate individual labels, means for applying glue to the labels during advance of the carriage toward labeling position, package stop dep-ressers at labeling position, and means for operating the depressers prior to depression of the can riers at labeling position.

47. In a. labeling machine of theclass described, in combination with means for positioning articles to be labeled, and label sup ply means, glue roll having a. ribbed surface and a label carrier arranged for to and fro movement to carry labels past and over the glue roll, the carrier having a surface provided with ribs intermediate the ribs on the roll surface.

48. In a labeling machine, in combination with means for positioning rows of articles to be labeled and label supply means, a glue roll having its surface provided with a multiplicity of annular gluing ribs, a plurality oflabel carriers having substantially flat label receiving faces, each face being provided with a plurality of ribs arranged to correspond with a plurality of the rib spaces of the glue roll, and means for moving the carriers to and fro between label receiving and label applying positionsto carry labels in cont a ct with the gluing ribs, the described construction being such that labels properly positioned on the carriers are glued as they pass over the annular gluing ribs, and in the absenceof a label, the ribs on the carrier faces pass between the annular gluing ribs without rceiving glue therefrom.

49. In a labeling machine, in combination with means for positioning rows of articles to be labeled and label supply means, a glue roll having its surface provided with a multiplicity of annular gluing ribs, a plurality of label carriers having substantially flat label receiving faces, each face being provided with a plurality of ribs arrangedto correspond with a plurality of the rib spaces of the glue roll, and means for moving the arriers to and fro between label receiving and label applying positions to carry labels in contact with the gluing ribs, each of the carriers being provided with a positive label gripper and the glue roll being provided with annulair channels to accommodate the grippers, the described construction being such that labels properly positioned on the carriers are glued as they pass over the an nular gluing ribs,-and in the absence of a label, the ribs on the carrier faces pass between the annular gluing ribs without receiving glue therefrom.

50. A labeling machine comprising means for positioning packages to be labeled, label carriers having a to and fro movement and.

label supply mechanism comprising means for feedingindividual label strips from a stack, a conveyor belt on which the strips are placed by the feed means, and rolls engaging the. belt and label strips-advancing thereon to retain the strips in properly spaced relation on the belt.

51. A labeling machine comprising means for positioning packages to be labeled, label 7 label strips at label receiving position.

52. A labeling machine comprising means for positioning packages to be labeled,label carriers having a to and fro movement and label supply mechanism comprising means for feeding'individual label strips from a stack, a conveyor belt on which the strips are placed by the feed means, rolls engaging the belt and label strips advancing thereon t retain the strips in properly spaced relation on the belt, a stop to locate the label strips at label receiving position, positive label grippers on the carriers, and means at label receiving position for raising an edge with a label strip in proximity to the carrier surfaceand ready to be assisted by the grippers.

Signed at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State-of Penna, this 25th day Feb, A. D. 1922.

CHARLES H. NITSCH. WILLIAM A. WEIGHTMAN. 

